Chapter 47: The Secret Realm
After leaving the tavern, Mingyan was about to leave Nan Ming City when he realized he was being followed again. This made him wary.
The last time he was here, a strange woman had followed him for quite a distance. Was he being targeted again?
He turned into a few alleyways, discreetly observing his pursuers. There were three male cultivators, all stronger than him, their exact cultivation levels imperceptible. They didn’t seem to be hiding their intentions and were approaching quickly. “Fellow Daoist, please wait.”
Mingyan stopped. They were still on the main street. Surely, no one would dare cause trouble here. He frowned. “What do you want?”
“We saw you seemed interested in the secret realm near Nan Ming City and wanted to form a team with you.”
One of the men, dressed in blue, tall and handsome, spoke to him with a smile. The other two wore purple robes. The man in blue seemed to be their leader.
Form a team with me? Mingyan’s mind raced. He couldn’t sense their cultivation levels, so they were either ordinary people or much stronger than him. Since they mentioned the secret realm, they couldn’t be ordinary people. They must be stronger cultivators and could likely tell he was only at the Great Brook Realm. Why would they want to team up with him?
He quickly realized they must have recognized his Wind Spirit Moon Shadow Sacred Land token and wanted to avoid making an enemy of him.
Mingyan’s eyes flickered. He didn’t know these people. Although his identity as a Sacred Land disciple might offer some protection, if these three were working together, he could be at a disadvantage when it came to splitting the spoils. And if they found a valuable treasure, greed could drive them to do anything.
Teaming up was a good idea, but not with strangers. He politely declined their offer.
The man in blue looked disappointed. “If Fellow Daoist isn’t willing to team up, then so be it. But let’s at least be friends. We can cooperate and avoid unnecessary conflict.”
They seemed wary of him. Mingyan realized his Sacred Land disciple identity was quite useful.
Unbeknownst to him, these were the same cultivators who had assumed he was concealing his true cultivation level. They believed he was likely at the Yang Tomb Realm or higher and, combined with his special token, didn’t want to antagonize him.
Mingyan nodded. “Naturally, opportunities depend on fate. There’s no need to force anything.”
The three men, seeing he wasn’t interested in cooperating, left. Mingyan also left Nan Ming City shortly after.
Although his senior sister had told him about Master’s fondness for the Tranquil Half Moon flower, she hadn’t mentioned where it grew. He would have to find that information himself. But for now, completing his master’s trial was the priority.
The instructions for his trial were vague. There were no specific requirements for success or failure. She likely wanted him to act independently. In that case, the best outcome would be obtaining any treasures within the secret realm.
After leaving Nan Ming City, Mingyan headed towards the secret realm’s location.
The area was called Cloud Covered Forest, a bamboo forest. A few hundred miles wasn’t far for him, and he arrived quickly.
As he approached, he noticed more and more cultivators gathering, all drawn by the prospect of treasures.
Such a location held little interest for powerful cultivators like those at the Rotating Core or Human Gateway Realms. It was more suitable for training younger disciples. Therefore, most of the cultivators here were young, many around Mingyan’s age or slightly older. However, he was likely the weakest among them in terms of cultivation.
The bamboo forest was dense, the bamboo stalks thick and sturdy, their leaves still green and vibrant even in autumn. The spiritual energy here was quite dense. If not for the news of the secret realm, this would be an ideal place for retirement…
Mingyan followed a group of cultivators heading in a particular direction.
They soon reached a clearing where the bamboo had been cut down, leaving only the fragrant stumps.
Dozens of people were gathered around a tombstone in the center, their hands clasped together, runes flickering around them. The laws inscribed on the tombstone were slowly dissolving.
Mingyan realized the secret realm was actually a tomb…
Being a cultivator wasn’t always glamorous. One might be powerful and respected in life, but after death, their tomb could become a tourist attraction, visited by countless people. If they were unlucky, cultivators might even fight within their tomb, potentially destroying their coffin… Mingyan grimaced. When he died, he would prefer to have his ashes scattered in the forest, following the customs of his village, rather than be buried…
That being said, he wouldn’t miss this opportunity. This was his first trial from Yue Wu Xia, and he wanted to impress her.
As a few people from his group tried to approach the tombstone, someone shouted, “Unauthorized personnel are forbidden to approach! You trash who haven’t even reached the Yin Tomb Realm, get lost!”
Mingyan frowned. So, only Yin Tomb Realm cultivators could enter? He would have to find another way…
Someone protested, “Why can’t those below Yin Tomb enter? We discovered this place together. Opportunities are treasures of heaven and earth, meant for everyone. Are you trying to monopolize it?”
“If you disagree, step forward, and I’ll crush your skull. Let’s see if you still disagree then.” The speaker was a young man, about fifteen years old, with delicate features and an arrogant demeanor.
The protester fell silent. Mingyan frowned and touched the token at his waist. If he couldn’t approach openly, he would have to find another way. He wasn’t familiar with this area and didn’t want to waste time trying to enter. By then, the treasures inside might be gone.
He looked around. Besides the dozens of cultivators trying to break the formation, there were many others, their cultivation levels imperceptible, but their clothes suggested they were from prominent families.
Most people in Nan Ming City hadn’t recognized his token, but these people surely would. He stepped forward, walking towards the center.
The arrogant young man, seeing Mingyan’s Great Brook Realm cultivation, was about to mock him when he noticed the token and fell silent, looking away. Mingyan realized they recognized it.
The cultivator who had questioned the Yin Tomb Realm restriction earlier, who was at the Illuminating Sea Realm, saw Mingyan approaching and the young man’s silence. He became agitated and asked again, “Why are you letting this Great Brook Realm cultivator approach?”
“Step forward and ask me yourself,” the young man glared at the crowd. “Don’t hide among them. Come stand before me, and I’ll tell you why.”
“If you’re a Sacred Land disciple, you can also approach,” another young man in elegant attire added with a smile.
“What? A Sacred Land disciple? Is there a Sacred Land disciple here?”
This caused a commotion in the crowd. Many turned to look at Mingyan.
Someone asked, puzzled, “Why is this Sacred Land disciple only at the Great Brook Realm?”
“That’s none of your business,” the young man replied coldly.
Mingyan, having just approached, overheard this and rolled his eyes discreetly. This young man’s words were as sharp as needles, but he was defending him, nonetheless.
The young man in elegant attire smiled at Mingyan. “Fellow Daoist, join us. We’ll enter the secret realm together and then explore separately.”
Mingyan nodded, knowing they had recognized his identity. This saved him the trouble of finding another way to enter… or rather, to seek opportunities.
“That young master is the genius from the Wan Xu Blessed Land, who’s already at the early Yang Tomb Realm!” someone in the crowd exclaimed, recognizing him.
“Early Yang Tomb Realm…? He must be highly valued even within a Sacred Land…”
Early Yang Tomb Realm? Mingyan’s eyes flickered. His competitors weren’t to be underestimated. He needed to be careful.
“That other young man is also a genius from a Blessed Land, apparently from the Tong Yun Blessed Land. I heard he’s at the peak of the Yin Tomb Realm!”
“The others must also be talented individuals from prominent backgrounds…”
“The Blessed Lands seem quite interested in this place… Even the Sacred Lands have sent people… This opportunity must be significant.”
Mingyan observed the crowd. There were many people, but those closest to the center, besides the cultivators breaking the formation, were all young, around his age. Only the one at the early Yang Tomb Realm looked a bit older, likely already an adult.
Seeing Mingyan looking at him, the young master smiled. “Judging by your token, Fellow Daoist, you’re a disciple of the Wind Spirit Moon Shadow Sacred Land? May I ask your true cultivation level?”
True cultivation level? Mingyan understood. The young master had noticed his special token and assumed he was a disciple of an elder, believing his cultivation level was higher than it appeared…
Mingyan smiled. “As you can see, I’m only at the Great Brook Realm.”
He was telling the truth, but since they already suspected he was hiding his true strength, telling the truth would only reinforce their suspicion.
As expected, the young master’s smile faltered slightly. “If Fellow Daoist isn’t willing to reveal it, then I won’t pry.”
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